Gorran Movement holds leadership transition ceremony amid internal conflicts

At the same event, Dana Ahmad Majid was elected as the new general secretary, marking a new chapter for the party.

Omar Said Ali (right) raises both his hands in the air to acknowledge the audience beside new Gorran Movement leader Dana Ahmad Majid, Sept. 28, 2024. (Photo: Kurdistan24)
Omar Said Ali (right) raises both his hands in the air to acknowledge the audience beside new Gorran Movement leader Dana Ahmad Majid, Sept. 28, 2024. (Photo: Kurdistan24)

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — Amid ongoing internal conflicts within the Gorran Movement, the party's leadership witnessed a significant change during a ceremony in Sulaimani on Saturday. Omar Said Ali, the outgoing leader, was honored as the movement officially transitioned leadership.

At the same event, Dana Ahmad Majid was elected as the new general secretary, marking a new chapter for the party.

In a press conference following the ceremony, Gorran Movement spokesman Diler Abdulkhaliq addressed recent controversies surrounding access to the party's headquarters. "Whoever is responsible for closing the door of the main forum of the Gorran Movement to the friends of Nawshirwan Mustafa has made a wrong decision. That place is a public venue and will never become private property," he stated. Abdulkhaliq emphasized that the movement values the service and vision of its late founder, Nawshirwan Mustafa, rather than focusing on property issues.

The Gorran Movement, established in 2009 by Nawshirwan Mustafa following a split from the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), once enjoyed widespread support as a pro-reform opposition party. However, its influence has steadily declined in recent years. Gorran is currently the third-largest party in the Kurdistan Region's Parliament, holding 12 of the 111 seats.

In federal elections, the party's performance has similarly diminished. Gorran secured five seats in the 2018 Iraqi parliamentary election when running independently, but in 2021, it formed an alliance with the PUK.